There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said,
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law?
How do you read it?”
He said in reply,
“You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself.”
He replied to him, “You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live.”
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
“And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied,
“A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
‘Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.’
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Lk 10:25-37
Jesus lays out a very cut and clear way to live to reach heaven and become a saint. 1. Love God before everything else (family, friends, electronics, sports, books, entertainment, all earthly things) 2. Love neighbor (all you come in contact with each day), 3. “as yourself” (you must love yourself first-stop putting yourself down and forgive yourself, love who you are because God made you for a specific purpose in this place in this time with this body, mind, and soul). Self is last, live a life of service towards others. This does not mean you do not take care of yourself or demand the utmost respect for yourself. It does not mean you don’t take time to relax and regenerate. We are useless if we are exhausted. Last, in this Year of Mercy, Jesus teaches us we are to “treat one another with mercy” as the Father does on us. The Good Samaritan is a parable that teaches us how to treat one another so we may enter the Kingdom of heaven. This is a very difficult task. We must first practice it with our parents, brothers and sisters. Are we still holding grudges and not forgiving someone for something they did that hurt us? What if God did that to you when you sin? Be bold, ask God for the strength to forgive so you can heal your relationships. Practice taking care of those around you and loving them even if they hurt you, then you will be ready to help others outside your home and in your community.
Today’s challenge: 1. Love God, love neighbor, love self. ”The one who treated him with mercy.” “Go and do likewise.” Then, you will be very close to the Kingdom of heaven. Are you ready for the battle?
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO
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